Under clock memory in Linux for 6970 up to core clk minus 125Mhz.

[dishwara]

Hi,

I am running Ubuntu 11.04 & tried with aticonfig to reduce memory clock. It reduces memory clock with catalyst 11.6 of 5870 graphics card.
But not with 6970 graphics card. Also i tried with AMDOVERDRIVEctrl, that too can't able to under clock memory. It takes high med, low values as 300 Mhz for memory, but once mining starts, it goes back to 1350 mhz for memory.

Anyone successfully under clocked memory of 6970 graphic card in Linux using an software.

Please, share your experience.

The 1350 Mhz makes card to produce heat up to 95C, which is really killing.


13/7/2011
EDIT:
With atitweak you can under clock memory up to core clk minus 125 Mhz.
If your core clk is 975, then you can under clock memory to 850 Mhz.
If you try to lower further then it will go back to 1375 Mhz or default.
Make mem clk 150 or less in Performance level 0 & 1.

[1713565567]

1713565567

[humble]

Weird. AMDOverdriveCtrl works fine for my 6870 under Ubuntu. Can't see why it wouldn't work for you. Are you running the latest ATI video driver and SDK 2.4?

[dishwara]

Weird. AMDOverdriveCtrl works fine for my 6870 under Ubuntu. Can't see why it wouldn't work for you. Are you running the latest ATI video driver and SDK 2.4?

Can you confirm that you can able to REALLY under clock memory of your SPECIAL 6870 card in Ubuntu with catalyst 11.6 & AMD APP 2.4 or whatever version of catalyst you are using & APP?

http://forum.bitcoin.org/index.php?topic=19776.msg290674#msg290674

http://forum.bitcoin.org/index.php?topic=19776.msg291062#msg291062

[organofcorti]

Hi,

I am running Ubuntu 11.04 & tried with aticonfig to reduce memory clock. It reduces memory clock with catalyst 11.6 of 5870 graphics card.
But not with 6970 graphics card. Also i tried with AMDOVERDRIVEctrl, that too can't able to under clock memory. It takes high med, low values as 300 Mhz for memory, but once mining starts, it goes back to 1350 mhz for memory.

Anyone successfully under clocked memory of 6970 graphic card in Linux using an software.

Please, share your experience.

The 1350 Mhz makes card to produce heat up to 95C, which is really killing.

Try taking mem to only 100MHz below core. Should stick. Does for me under 11.5.

[dishwara]

tried with 975, 875 in 11.6, but not working in 6970.
still showing 1375 mhz only.

[boaz2020]

Are you sure you're setting the overdrive levels for the three separate stages; Low, Med, High?
What I do is create a profile and save it using the GUI.
Then edit the .ovdr file it creates, I've noticed the GUI doesn't really save the files properly. If you edit the .ovdr files directly, you can then invoke the settings by:

AMDOverdriveCtrl -b -i n profile.ovdr

Where n is the AMDOverdriveCtrl's index for the card you want to clock.

[coblee]

I've been using atitweak: http://forum.bitcoin.org/index.php?topic=25750.0

I could set the memory to something low but it won't stick. It seems like mem clock cannot be more than 125 lower than core clock. Not sure why that is.
So if you set your core clock to 900, you can set your mem clock to 775 but not lower. Otherwise, it will revert back to 1375.

[dishwara]

I've been using atitweak: http://forum.bitcoin.org/index.php?topic=25750.0

I could set the memory to something low but it won't stick. It seems like mem clock cannot be more than 125 lower than core clock. Not sure why that is.
So if you set your core clock to 900, you can set your mem clock to 775 but not lower. Otherwise, it will revert back to 1375.

Thanks.
I tried with core clk 975 & mem clk 900 now with both aticonfig & atitweak. But still i am getting peak as 1375 for 6970 cards & no less in temperature also.
I used 11.6 catalyst.
Which catalyst you used?

[coblee]

I've been using atitweak: http://forum.bitcoin.org/index.php?topic=25750.0

I could set the memory to something low but it won't stick. It seems like mem clock cannot be more than 125 lower than core clock. Not sure why that is.
So if you set your core clock to 900, you can set your mem clock to 775 but not lower. Otherwise, it will revert back to 1375.

Thanks.
I tried with core clk 975 & mem clk 900 now with both aticonfig & atitweak. But still i am getting peak as 1375 for 6970 cards & no less in temperature also.
I used 11.6 catalyst.
Which catalyst you used?

11.6 also.

Paste the output of these commands:

aticonfig --adapter=all --odgc
atitweak -l

[dishwara]

Thanks it worked, i didn't notice performance level 0 & 1.

I realized after seeing performance level 1, that mem clk is mentioned as 1375.
so reduced mem clk in both performance 0 & 1 to 150 mhz, then it let me reduce the mem clk to 850mhz.

Code:

dishwara00@dishwara00-MS-7670:~$ aticonfig --adapter=all --odgc

Adapter 0 - AMD Radeon HD 6900 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    975           1375
             Current Peak :    975           900
  Configurable Peak Range : [500-2000]     [1375-2000]
                 GPU load :    99%

Adapter 1 - ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    984           325
             Current Peak :    984           325
  Configurable Peak Range : [600-1200]     [900-1400]
                 GPU load :    97%

Adapter 2 - AMD Radeon HD 6900 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    975           1375
             Current Peak :    975           900
  Configurable Peak Range : [500-2000]     [1375-2000]
                 GPU load :    94%

Adapter 3 - AMD Radeon HD 6900 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    975           1375
             Current Peak :    975           900
  Configurable Peak Range : [500-2000]     [1375-2000]
                 GPU load :    94%

Adapter 4 - AMD Radeon HD 6900 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    975           1375
             Current Peak :    975           900
  Configurable Peak Range : [500-2000]     [1375-2000]
                 GPU load :    94%

Adapter 5 - ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    984           325
             Current Peak :    984           325
  Configurable Peak Range : [600-1200]     [900-1400]
                 GPU load :    98%

dishwara00@dishwara00-MS-7670:~$ atitweak -l

0. AMD Radeon HD 6900 Series (:0.0)
    engine clock range is 125 - 2000MHz
    memory clock range is 75 - 2000MHz
    core voltage range is 0.9 - 1.175VDC
    performance level 0: engine clock 250MHz, memory clock 150MHz, core voltage 0.9VDC
    performance level 1: engine clock 500MHz, memory clock 1375MHz, core voltage 1VDC
    performance level 2: engine clock 975MHz, memory clock 900MHz, core voltage 1.175VDC

1. ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series (:0.1)
    engine clock range is 80 - 1200MHz
    memory clock range is 150 - 1400MHz
    core voltage range is 1.062 - 1.212VDC
    performance level 0: engine clock 157MHz, memory clock 300MHz, core voltage 1.062VDC
    performance level 1: engine clock 600MHz, memory clock 900MHz, core voltage 1.112VDC
    performance level 2: engine clock 984MHz, memory clock 325MHz, core voltage 1.212VDC

2. AMD Radeon HD 6900 Series (:0.2)
    engine clock range is 125 - 2000MHz
    memory clock range is 75 - 2000MHz
    core voltage range is 0.9 - 1.175VDC
    performance level 0: engine clock 250MHz, memory clock 150MHz, core voltage 0.9VDC
    performance level 1: engine clock 500MHz, memory clock 1375MHz, core voltage 1VDC
    performance level 2: engine clock 975MHz, memory clock 900MHz, core voltage 1.175VDC

3. AMD Radeon HD 6900 Series (:0.3)
    engine clock range is 125 - 2000MHz
    memory clock range is 75 - 2000MHz
    core voltage range is 0.9 - 1.175VDC
    performance level 0: engine clock 250MHz, memory clock 150MHz, core voltage 0.9VDC
    performance level 1: engine clock 500MHz, memory clock 1375MHz, core voltage 1VDC
    performance level 2: engine clock 975MHz, memory clock 900MHz, core voltage 1.175VDC

4. AMD Radeon HD 6900 Series (:0.4)
    engine clock range is 125 - 2000MHz
    memory clock range is 75 - 2000MHz
    core voltage range is 0.9 - 1.175VDC
    performance level 0: engine clock 250MHz, memory clock 150MHz, core voltage 0.9VDC
    performance level 1: engine clock 500MHz, memory clock 1375MHz, core voltage 1VDC
    performance level 2: engine clock 975MHz, memory clock 900MHz, core voltage 1.175VDC

5. ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series (:0.5)
    engine clock range is 80 - 1200MHz
    memory clock range is 150 - 1400MHz
    core voltage range is 1.062 - 1.212VDC
    performance level 0: engine clock 157MHz, memory clock 300MHz, core voltage 1.062VDC
    performance level 1: engine clock 600MHz, memory clock 900MHz, core voltage 1.112VDC
    performance level 2: engine clock 984MHz, memory clock 325MHz, core voltage 1.212VDC

dishwara00@dishwara00-MS-7670:~$ atitweak -l

0. AMD Radeon HD 6900 Series (:0.0)
    engine clock range is 125 - 2000MHz
    memory clock range is 75 - 2000MHz
    core voltage range is 0.9 - 1.175VDC
    performance level 0: engine clock 250MHz, memory clock 150MHz, core voltage 0.9VDC
    performance level 1: engine clock 500MHz, memory clock 150MHz, core voltage 1VDC
    performance level 2: engine clock 975MHz, memory clock 850MHz, core voltage 1.175VDC

1. ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series (:0.1)
    engine clock range is 80 - 1200MHz
    memory clock range is 150 - 1400MHz
    core voltage range is 1.062 - 1.212VDC
    performance level 0: engine clock 157MHz, memory clock 150MHz, core voltage 1.062VDC
    performance level 1: engine clock 600MHz, memory clock 150MHz, core voltage 1.112VDC
    performance level 2: engine clock 984MHz, memory clock 325MHz, core voltage 1.212VDC

2. AMD Radeon HD 6900 Series (:0.2)
    engine clock range is 125 - 2000MHz
    memory clock range is 75 - 2000MHz
    core voltage range is 0.9 - 1.175VDC
    performance level 0: engine clock 250MHz, memory clock 150MHz, core voltage 0.9VDC
    performance level 1: engine clock 500MHz, memory clock 150MHz, core voltage 1VDC
    performance level 2: engine clock 975MHz, memory clock 850MHz, core voltage 1.175VDC

3. AMD Radeon HD 6900 Series (:0.3)
    engine clock range is 125 - 2000MHz
    memory clock range is 75 - 2000MHz
    core voltage range is 0.9 - 1.175VDC
    performance level 0: engine clock 250MHz, memory clock 150MHz, core voltage 0.9VDC
    performance level 1: engine clock 500MHz, memory clock 150MHz, core voltage 1VDC
    performance level 2: engine clock 975MHz, memory clock 850MHz, core voltage 1.175VDC

4. AMD Radeon HD 6900 Series (:0.4)
    engine clock range is 125 - 2000MHz
    memory clock range is 75 - 2000MHz
    core voltage range is 0.9 - 1.175VDC
    performance level 0: engine clock 250MHz, memory clock 150MHz, core voltage 0.9VDC
    performance level 1: engine clock 500MHz, memory clock 150MHz, core voltage 1VDC
    performance level 2: engine clock 975MHz, memory clock 850MHz, core voltage 1.175VDC

5. ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series (:0.5)
    engine clock range is 80 - 1200MHz
    memory clock range is 150 - 1400MHz
    core voltage range is 1.062 - 1.212VDC
    performance level 0: engine clock 157MHz, memory clock 150MHz, core voltage 1.062VDC
    performance level 1: engine clock 600MHz, memory clock 150MHz, core voltage 1.112VDC
    performance level 2: engine clock 984MHz, memory clock 325MHz, core voltage 1.212VDC

dishwara00@dishwara00-MS-7670:~$ atitweak --set-memory-clock=850 --performance-level=2 --adapter=0

dishwara00@dishwara00-MS-7670:~$ aticonfig --odgc --adapter=all

Adapter 0 - AMD Radeon HD 6900 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    975           850
             Current Peak :    975           850
    Configurable Peak Range : [500-2000]     [150-2000]
                 GPU load :    99%

Adapter 1 - ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series
                             Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
            Current Clocks :    984           325
              Current Peak :    984           325
  Configurable Peak Range : [600-1200]     [150-1400]
                 GPU load :    97%

Adapter 2 - AMD Radeon HD 6900 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    975           850
             Current Peak :    975           850
  Configurable Peak Range : [500-2000]     [150-2000]
                 GPU load :    98%

Adapter 3 - AMD Radeon HD 6900 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    975           850
             Current Peak :    975           850
  Configurable Peak Range : [500-2000]     [150-2000]
                 GPU load :    93%

Adapter 4 - AMD Radeon HD 6900 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    975           850
             Current Peak :    975           850
  Configurable Peak Range : [500-2000]     [150-2000]
                 GPU load :    93%

Adapter 5 - ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series
                            Core (MHz)    Memory (MHz)
           Current Clocks :    984           325
             Current Peak :    984           325
  Configurable Peak Range : [600-1200]     [150-1400]
                 GPU load :    97%

dishwara00@dishwara00-MS-7670:~$ 

You are right. If i put mem clk to 800 or 825 then it goes back to 1375.
It allows to reduce only 175 from core clk. Reducing even a 300+ mem clk reduced temperature to 85C from 90C. That is really good.

Thank you very much.

[coblee]

Yeah, the mem clock in level 2 cannot be lower than that of level 1 and 2. So what I do is just set the mem clock for all levels to the same and then just set the core clock for level 2. That works for me.

[coblee]

If anyone knows a workaround to underclock memory clock more than 125MHz below core clock, please post. Thanks!

[Newton]

Yes this is a good question.  As far as I know there is no Linux tool to underclock lower than 125 below core clock.

Windows users report MSI Afterburnder will allow this.

(1) Can anyone confirm the real world value of this under Windows?  Are you seeing lower temps?
(2) Are there any other windows tools which can do this for Cayman core?

If its worthwhile, and if I can figure out how MSI interacts with the card, I'd like to try to modify the linux tool- since AMDOverDrvCtrl is open source and all.

[coblee]

Yes this is a good question.  As far as I know there is no Linux tool to underclock lower than 125 below core clock.

Windows users report MSI Afterburnder will allow this.

(1) Can anyone confirm the real world value of this under Windows?  Are you seeing lower temps?
(2) Are there any other windows tools which can do this for Cayman core?

If its worthwhile, and if I can figure out how MSI interacts with the card, I'd like to try to modify the linux tool- since AMDOverDrvCtrl is open source and all.

Yeah, if there is a way, that would be awesome.
Take a look at atitweak: http://forum.bitcoin.org/index.php?topic=25750.0
That is based on AMDOverDrvCtrl. Unfortunately, like AMDOverDrvCtrl, it will let you set a lower clock speed, but it doesn't stick if it's more than 125 less than core.

[miscreanity]

Using aticonfig, my 6950 took the memory underclocking the first time I tested it at 900/300, but only for a brief time. Since then, the best I can do is the same as everyone else - mem no more than 125 below core speed. Underclocking the memory might not do a huge amount for power consumption, but it significantly reduces heat generation.

I have read that it is possible to set and commit the core/mem speeds in Windows, then switch to Linux and use them with the same configuration. I'm not sure whether it will fall apart if any changes are made from within Linux and I do not have easy access to Windows, but it could be a funky workaround.

Other than that, I'm trying some BIOS mods. This is easily done using RBE from within a virtualized XP session. There are some limitations as the virtualization abstracts the video adapter, leading to RBE and GPU-Z not being able to verify certain BIOS changes, particularly shaders. Speaking of which - does anyone know where to get the shader information from within in Linux? One of the ATI tools, maybe?

Also hoping for cooler weather to overclock easier...